By NATHAN KING
Salina Post
SALINA —Authorities are investigating a weekend fire in Salina. Just before 10p.m. on Saturday, firefighters responded to reports of a fire near Downtown Auto Service located at 119 S. Eighth Street, according to the Salina Fire Department.
Eyewitness to the fire, Tyler Sartain — a congregant of the Heartland Worship Center located across the street from Downtown Auto Service — noticed the fire as he left the church after preparing for service the following morning. Congregant Mario Aviles was also with him.
"I saw a glow coming from the front doors of the church, but at first I thought it could've been a cop going by with his lights on," Sartain said. "But it kept getting brighter."
When Sartain looked outside, he saw the tire pile engulfed in flames. As soon as Sartain discovered the fire, he and Aviles went into the church and called 911. Sartain and Aviles took fire extinguishers from the church to try and extinguish the blaze.
"By the time we got there, it was too hot and too big for the extinguishers to do anything," Sartain said.
Salina firefighters made it to the scene and were able to put out the fire. There were no injuries as a result of the fire, but Downtown Auto Service sustained damaged. According to SFD Battalion Chief Kirk Stover, the cause of the fire is under investigation.